Coe calms Beijing protest fears

2008-07-04 22:37

Rome - The chairperson of the London 2012 Organising Committee, Lord Sebastian Coe, said on Friday that he had no fears that the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games would be spoilt by political protests.

With less than 50 days until the Olympic flame is lit, there are still worries over potential dissent against China's human rights record and their presence in Tibet.

However, Coe, who won gold at the Cold War-affected Olympics in 1980 and 1984, feels that a heightened political backdrop is part and parcel of any Olympic Games and is confident they will be successful.

"I think the Games will be special. We shouldn't overplay the controversies of Olympic Games and we have all been to Olympic Games where there have been controversies. I could make a case that every Olympics since 1896 has been part of the process of change."

Once the Beijing Olympics has finished all eyes will turn to London 2012 and Coe remains confident that the British capital can stage a memorable event.

"We're in good shape. We've started the construction on the Olympic stadium a few months early. The plan is to get them delivered to the organising committee a year out so we can properly test them.

"We're not getting complacent as it is a very complicated process."

- SAPA